Wednesday, June 9, 2010

“We keep telling our guys that good things happen when we defend well. We’re in their attacking third and things break down a little bit. I am not sure if it was Pablo (Campos) or Alvaro (Saborio) who got their foot to that ball, but they made a block on their defender, it hits off another defender and goes straight to Javier (Morales). Good things happen when we are alert defensively. The play got broken for Pablo or Alvaro, so to get their foot in there is a good thing.”

On the Galaxy’s play:

“I just think they’re a really mature, composed, compact, and organized team defensively. They make things extremely difficult to break down. As I saw tonight, it was extremely difficult to get that goal. Interesting that it comes off a bit of a misplay.”

On the non-offside call on the goal:

“What I saw, our player struck the ball off their defender and it goes straight to Javier. The ball has come from their player to our player, who is an offside position, but he can’t be ruled offside if it comes from their defender.”

On RSL’s mood at halftime:

“It was good. It’s one of those times when you just say, ‘Congratulations, it’s a fantastic half of soccer. I’m so proud and it’s just fun to watch.’ As a spectator, that’s how you begin to feel at times because things are going so well. You need to remind the players to be alert because it really still felt like LA was going to be dangerous on a counterattacking opportunity, so I just wanted the guys to be alert and keep going. I thought things would turn our way and they ended up doing that.”

On earning three points going into the break in MLS play:

“We end up on a really positive note. I am really pleased with where we are right now. We can take a little bit of a breather now and relax and enjoy some time off.”

REAL SALT LAKE DEFENDER NAT BORCHERS

On RSL’s defensive performance:

“We just wanted to be patient tonight because we knew it was going to take something special to break them down and get a goal.”

On gaining the full three points:

“It’s really special because they’re undefeated and they were playing with a lot of confidence.”

REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER JAVIER MORALES

On his game-winning goal:

“I was thinking I was offside, but it looked like the last person to touch it was on Los Angeles and that’s why I pursued it and got the goal.”

On the atmosphere at Rio Tinto Stadium:

“Unbelievable. I don’t know how many fans there were, but it was unbelievable!”

REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER NED GRABAVOY

On the result vs. Los Angeles:

“We were fortunate enough to get a goal. We knew it was going to be a one-goal game, we just didn’t want to give it up.”

On Javier Morales’ tally:

“When he put it away everyone looked at the linesman and he didn’t show at all that he was going to put his flag up. We were all super excited and knew there were only 10 minutes left so we could just try to keep the ball.”

LA GALAXY HEAD COACH BRUCE ARENA

On the Javier Morales goal:

“It wasn’t a pass. There wasn’t a pass on the whole play. Who passed the ball on that play? It was originally a deflection off of a Salt Lake player and a Galaxy player, then it deflected off of Gonzalez and Morales was standing there. It would be hard for me to believe … it was a missed play. Let’s be fair. Over the season you’re going to get some in your favor and some are going to go against you.”

On whether the altitude factor played a role in the match:

“We realize that the last 15 minutes of each half, due to the elevation, it becomes a little bit of a factor. And the home team is a little more acclimated to the altitude. At the end of each half we were a little bit tired. It impacted us and that’s that.”

On the Galaxy’s effort:

“I think it was a good effort. I think it was a game that could have gone either way. It probably should have been a draw at the end of the day. The delay with the lightning made for an awkward night. We started the game about three hours ago. It was a long night.”

LA GALAXY DEFENDER OMAR GONZALEZ

On the match:

“It’s just tough to play here in Salt Lake. They haven’t lost in 16 games. We were just trying to sit back a little bit and plan out our chances. I thought it was a pretty good game. They scored a goal, but it happens.”

On the difference between tonight and LA’s win over RSL back in April:

“I think that they just had more intensity this time than last time. That’s about it.”

LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER JUNINHO

On the match:

“It was a tough game. I was hoping to come out with a victory, and we wanted the victory from the first minute. Unfortunately we couldn’t because there was a mistake on the referee.”

On the strengthening of his game:

“Yes, Bruce has asked me to be more aggressive. And so I have been more aggressive and that will help us to come away with more results and victories.”

LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER CLINT MATHIS

On his comfort with changing styles of play from RSL to L.A.:

“I think we still play in that wide open style sometimes. It just depends on what situation presents itself with how teams are playing and how players are playing. It is a bit different style [with L.A.], but it’s working for us so far with the record that we have.”

On returning to Rio Tinto Stadium:

“For sure I like coming back. It’s good to see all the people you know. It’s good to see the guys on the team. Some of the fans I know and some of the people that work at the stadium I know so I enjoyed seeing everybody and seeing the stadium and had a good time.”

2 comments:

You win some and you lose some. The supposed "offside" is too bad for LA, but look at the numerous PK's that have been called against RSL this season. Real Salt Lake has now shown over the last 3 games against LA that they deserve respect as a serious soccer team in the MLS.

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One of Major League Soccer's original clubs, the LA Galaxy play their home games at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. A two-time winner of both the MLS Cup (2002 and 2005) and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2001 and 2005), the Galaxy boast a strong and rich history in MLS and around the world. With a roster that features stars like David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle and more under the eye of general manager and head coach Bruce Arena, the Galaxy will look to return to the pinnacle of MLS in 2010.